Privacy Policy

Introduction

PrimerGenie ("Service") is a free, web-based PCR primer search tool operated by Cytogence, a division of KeyQ, Inc. ("KeyQ," "we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you visit www.primergenie.com.

PrimerGenie is a research tool that provides computationally designed primer sequences. It does not process patient data, protected health information (PHI), or clinical data.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

• Search queries: Gene symbols and filter selections you enter when searching for primers.
• Account information: If you sign in via a third-party provider (Google, Microsoft, or ORCID), we receive your email address, display name, and profile picture URL. We do not receive or store your password.
• Community ratings: If you submit primer reviews, we store your rating (worked/didn't work), protocol notes, cell line, and organism information.
• Saved primers: Primers you bookmark to your account.

No account registration is required to search for primers. Account creation is only necessary to submit ratings or save primers.

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit the Service, we may automatically collect:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Referring URL
• Pages visited and time spent
• Device information

This information is collected through server logs and analytics tools to help us understand usage patterns and improve the Service.

Information from Third-Party Services

We use Google Analytics to analyze site traffic and usage. Google Analytics collects information such as how often users visit the site, what pages they visit, and what other sites they visited prior. We use this information solely to improve the Service. Google's ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics is governed by the Google Privacy Policy.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
• Associate your reviews and saved primers with your account
• Display your name alongside reviews you submit (for community transparency)
• Analyze usage trends and optimize performance
• Moderate content and enforce our Terms of Service
• Respond to inquiries or support requests

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing or advertising purposes.

Cookies

The Service uses cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

• Essential cookies: Required for the Service to function, including session authentication cookies that maintain your signed-in state.
• Functional cookies: Store your preferences such as theme selection (dark/light mode).
• Analytics cookies: Used by Google Analytics to collect anonymized usage data to help us improve the Service.

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may prevent authenticated features from working properly.

Data Retention

We retain your account information and user-generated content (reviews, saved primers) for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. Search queries are not associated with individual users and are retained only in aggregate analytics data.

If you request account deletion, we will remove your personal information and associated data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on Cloudflare's global infrastructure. All data is encrypted in transit via TLS. We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Privacy Rights

California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to Opt-Out: We do not sell personal information, so this right does not apply. We also do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.

European Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten").
• Right to Restriction: Request that we limit the processing of your data.
• Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your data based on legitimate interests.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Lawful basis for processing: We process your data based on (a) your consent (e.g., when you create an account or submit a review), (b) performance of the Service (e.g., processing search queries), and (c) our legitimate interests (e.g., analytics and service improvement).

International data transfers: Your data may be transferred to and processed in the United States and other countries where Cloudflare operates infrastructure. We rely on Cloudflare's data processing agreements and appropriate safeguards for international transfers.

Do Not Track

The Service does not currently respond to "Do Not Track" (DNT) browser signals. However, you can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at the address below.

Third-Party Services

The Service integrates with the following third-party services:

• Google Analytics — for site traffic analysis and usage metrics
• Google OAuth — for "Sign in with Google" authentication
• Microsoft OAuth — for "Sign in with Microsoft" authentication
• ORCID OAuth — for "Sign in with ORCID" authentication
• Cloudflare — for hosting, content delivery, and security

Each third-party service has its own privacy policy governing how it handles your information.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of material changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or have concerns about how your information is handled, contact us at: